Tuesday, February 11, 2014

Blessings of furlough

During these months in the US,  we have been blessed over and over in various ways and by various people all over the US and even in Canada.  I just want to share with you a few of the major ways that we have been supported and blessed during these ministry days in the US.


1. A home
HA HA! Sod house replica in Walnut Grove, MN

We don't own a home in the US (or in India either, for that matter), but while in the US we always have a place to call home.  In Maine, we stay with my parents.  They give up their sewing/computer room and put up with kids sleeping all over their living room floor.  The kids also have a second home with their cousins and try their level best to stay there at least once a week while we are there.  Our sending church has an apartment that we stay in when we are in Indiana or have meetings nearby.  We also have close friends in Maryland who make us feel at home when we are in their area.  Our two large families, ten kids total, stay together and somehow it works out really well! 

2. A van
As a missionary traveling thousands of miles over a few month period, your vehicle becomes another home, and a very important part of your family life!  Friends, who will remain nameless because they may skin me alive if I put their name on the internet, have provided us a 12 passenger van to use while we are here.  Plenty of room for the family, and plenty of room for luggage.  We will definitely miss "the Big White" when we return to India.

3. Prayer cards
Every time we come for a furlough, or have another baby, we need to get updated prayer cards made.  A new supporting church mentioned that one of their members knew how to design cards, and had done a beautiful one for their church.  We got in contact with her and after only sending her a picture and some info. that we wanted included on the card she sent us back a beautiful prayer card.  We have gotten compliments at almost every church about how beautiful our prayer card is.  If you are a missionary that needs a new prayer card design, please contact her.  You won't be sorry.
http://www.marybethhoover.com/layouts#5

4. Love and encouragement
While visiting churches there have been so many that have encouraged us and loved us in multiple ways, I could never name them all or try, but we have been blessed.

5. Luggage
This just happened today so I will share it. Through a contact of our sending church pastor, someone that we have never met donated this beautiful luggage.  (Don't ask me how stressed I feel looking at these empty suitcases, that I will soon have to fill!)   These are the best suitcases we have ever had, the kind that we have stared longingly at in various airports around the world!
And yes..these children do belong to me!  There are so many more blessings I could mention, too many, but these that I've mentioned are major..yes MAJOR blessings to this missionary family.